Shoe cleaner



C. E. CAZEL SHOE CLEANER May 27; 1930.

Fil ed Dec. 6, 1928 witness Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES OFFICE CASSIUS E. CAZEL, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE METAL BOUND BRUSH & BROOM (30., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO SHOE CLEANER Application filed. December 6, 1928. Serial No. 324,159.

The invention relates to improvements in devices placed at or near the entrances of dwellings and other buildings, enabling those who enter to first clean mud or other matter from their shoes, and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a rather simple and inexpensive device of this character which may be quickly and easily changed so that either a brush or a scraping blade is accessible for use.

\Vith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the brush and the scraper disconnected from each other.

The form of construction selected for illustration in the present application will be rather specifically described, with the understanding that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

The numeral 3 has reference to a vertical scraping blade provided at its lower edge with a horizontal flange 4 adapted to be secured upon a supporting surface by screws or other fasteners passed through openings 5 in the ends of said flange. The ends of the blade 3 are bent inwardly to provide two cylindrical vertically elongated tubular sockets 6. It will be noted that the lower ends of tubular sockets partly overlap and engage the upper side of the attaching flange 4 and thus reinforce and brace the ends of the scraping blade.

Employed in connection with the parts above described, is a preferably cylindrical, horizontally elongated brush 7 whose ends are provided with downwardly projecting studs 8 removably received in the sockets 6. Preferably, the brush 7 is formed by placing a plurality of fibres or the like 9 between two lengths of wire 10 and then twisting these lengths of wire together until the fibres are tightly bound between them. The ends of the wires project beyond the fibres, brlstles or the like and are bent downwardly to provide the studs 8. In bending the ends of the wires downwardly, a portion of the fibres at each end of the brush are also turned downwardly to a limited extent so that the ends of the brush may be used for thoroughly cleaning' the sidesof the shoe and edges of the shple soles when rubbed against said brush en s.

When use of the brush 7 is desired, the

parts remain assembled as seen in Fi l. but when the blade 3 is to be presented for use, the brush may be easily removed simply by pulling it upwardly.

A shoe cleaner constructed as herein described is superior to such articles now in use. By actual tests, it cleans morethoroughly and easily and will. not unnecessarily soil the upper part of the shoe. Under ordinary conditions, the brush is used and as this brush embodies tough stifl' weather-resisting fibre, it will be long-lived. Moreover, its shape and mounting are such that it may be easily used on all parts of the shoe sole and heel, including the instep of the former. By moving the shoe transversely along the brush, the instep portion of its sole may be readily cleaned and by tilting the shoe in one direction or the other and moving it forwardly and rearwardly, the edges of the sole and heel may be eflectively cleaned. The device is less conspicuous than numerous others,.is of more neat appearance and when placed at the end of a step or edge of a walk or the like, will tend to flick the dirt away from the surface upon which walking must be done, instead of causing an unsightly accumulation and one which will be eventually tracked indoors. The device is superior to ordinary fibre mats or metal scraping mats which have a decided tendency to fill with dirt and moisture making them ineffective for cleaning the shoe soles and at the same time tending to discolor or de cay the surface upon which they are placed. Either the brush or the scraping blade may be used as occasion may demand and when said brush has been worn out, it may be replaced at considerably less cost than the original cost ofthe complete article. The device is easily and cheaply manufactured and may be marketed at small cost to the user.

I claim 1. A device of the class described comprising a straight metal bar of right angular form in transverse section, the horizontal portion of said bar being provided with openings to receive attaching fasteners, the vertical portion of said bar being provided at its ends with rigid vertical tubular sockets. a horizontal brush lying upon the upper edge of said vertical portion of said bar, said brush having a wire center whose ends are bent downwardly and received in said sockets, some of the brush bristles being bent downwardly with said wire ends and projecting in numerous directions from the upper ends of said sockets, whereby when cleaning a shoe with the brush there is little liability of striking said shoe upon any part of the bar and its sockets. v e

2. A shoe cleaner comprising a scraper blade having along its lower edge an integral, horizontal attaching flange which projects laterally at right angles to the blade, the ends of said blade being bent upon themselves to form cylindrical tubular, upwardly opening sockets the lower ends of which partly overlap and engage the upper side of said flange, and thereby reinforce and brace the ends of the blade.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature.

CASSIUS E. CAZEL. 

